Sausage Pepper Focaccia Melts
Toasty focaccia, Italian sausage, peppers, and melty provolone make a snack-board sandwich with diner-counter energy.
Prep: 10 · Cook: 20 · Total: 30 · Serves: 6 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.7/5 (118 reviews)
INSPIRED BY
An original snack built from Italian sandwich-shop flavors, adapted for one quick sheet-pan bake.
Story
This is the tray I want when the game is on and nobody has agreed whether we are eating dinner. It has the salty sausage, the melted cheese, and just enough pepperoncini snap to keep you reaching back in. Focaccia gives it the road-trip sandwich feel, but the oven does the work at home. Cut it small for sharing, or claim the corner piece and call it a meal.
By Theo
Ingredients
- 8 oz bulk Italian sausage
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 large focaccia, split horizontally
- 6 slices provolone
- 1/3 cup sliced pepperoncini, drained
- 2 tbsp marinara sauce
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tsp butter, for the pan
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 425 F and line a sheet pan with parchment.
- Cook the sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, breaking it into small pieces.
- Add the oil, peppers, onion, oregano, and pepper, then cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the sausage is browned.
- Spread marinara over the cut side of the focaccia and layer on the sausage mixture, provolone, and pepperoncini.
- Close the focaccia, brush the top lightly with butter, and bake for 8 minutes until crisp and melted.
- Scatter parsley over the warm sandwich, cut into six pieces, and serve with extra marinara for dipping.
Chef Tips
- Use a sturdy focaccia so the filling stays put.
- Drain pepperoncini well to protect the crust.
- Swap provolone for mozzarella or fontina if needed.
- For a party, cut the baked focaccia into bite-size squares and hold it warm on the sheet pan.
Cook's Notes
- Brown sausage before adding vegetables.
- Drain pepperoncini before assembling.
- Bake until the bread edges are crisp and cheese is fully melted.